Yadrolla System Mingle

[lacyprincess]

Who: EVERYBODY
Broadcast: Yeah, sure, I guess
Action: The Fleet and the Yadrolla System
When: 4/29 - 6/8

[Hey, hey, look, we have a new system! Let's go compete in stuff and root for sportsball teams! System info is here!

GO WAVES!]

Comments

[wingenvy]

[Zack surfaces and floats on his back, kicking to stay afloat as his chest heaves with laughing gasps.]

Hahahaha, oh man, that was fun... you used that move I taught you! I didn't know it worked underwater.

[moseyin]

Well now we know. Trial by...not fire, water. [Bobs there, trying not to look out of breath but totally is. Man, up close the tattoos look so much more vibrant, and Cloud can't help but stare.]

[wingenvy]

[Zack is quiet for a bit, just enjoying the sun, but when he glances over to catch Cloud in the act he smiles, the expression more thoughtful than it usually is.]

It's nice, yeah? I never saw the appeal before, but I think I could get into it, now.

[moseyin]

It really does look good on you, [Cloud repeats, treading water with the least amount of effort, kicks and arm movements lazy.] It's like...I dunno how to say it.

[What does it remind him of? Of that horrible day obviously, in the rain and the mud and Zack's blood all over his face and knees, but it also reminds him of Aerith's little church, quiet and creaky and the only sweet-smelling place in Sector 5 besides Aerith's house.] ...like if all the fields around Midgar started growing grass again.

[wingenvy]

Wouldn't that be a sight, [is Zack's returned murmur, eyes drifting back towards the beautiful blue sky. In a lot of ways, this planet feels like a missed opportunity- a taste of how the land and people can thrive when powered by something that doesn't kill the world as it's used. This is probably the kind of world that those people from AVALANCHE would always yell about.

One hand drifts idly over the inked skin, unconsciously tracing the vine pattern connecting all of the flowers- he knows its path, he'd chosen it for the way it weaves through each and every old bullet hole. Maybe he can't see their world change, but he's got an imagination doesn't he? These wounds can't take that away from him.]

Maybe I'll get more, later. Could add some sky, extra colours, little bits of home all over...

[Cover them all up and make something beautiful. Something that maybe, one day, will stop hurting.]

[moseyin]

Just don't lose the guy underneath it, [Cloud says, splashing a little bit of water up over Zack's chest and hand.] There's good stuff there, too.

[wingenvy]

[Zack chuckles and rolls over, treading in place to stay upright.]

Don't worry, I think I've got a pretty good hold on that guy. He's very memorable, y'know.

[moseyin]

[Goes a little quiet, then:] Yeah, he is. [One way or another. Even Cloud's breakfast scramble of a brain couldn't completely forget Zack Fair.

Maybe it's sunstroke or something, but now seems like a great time for Cloud to blurt out,] Did you know you were my phone background when I was in basic?

[wingenvy]

What, seriously? Everybody I knew had Sephiroth on their phones. Big damn Wutai war hero, talk of the town.

[FOREVER SALTY ABOUT THAT. He fought too, okay!!]

Why me?

[moseyin]

I did at first. [Sorry buddy] But after a while...I dunno. I don't remember what I was thinking. [And that is a l i e] But I remember cuz my mom- [pause.] ...my mom asked me who that was on my background, and that's when I invited you over to meet her.

[wingenvy]

[Shrugs. It's normal to want Sephiroth, that's why this is so surprising.]

Y'know, usually when you take somebody special over to meet your parents, you'd have asked them out already!

[moseyin]

Shut up, maybe I was workin' up to it! How about that! [Reaches over to try and dunk Zack's head under the water]

[wingenvy]

[Zack could avoid it, but instead he just lets it happen with a gurgling underwater laugh, giving a thumbs-up above the surface. He's not too bothered by the idea of that, as a matter of fact.]

[moseyin]

[Lets Zack up so he doesn't drown but karate-chops his head lightly

Fair. You dumbass]

[wingenvy]

[heheheHEHEHEHE he's blushing.

Zack's a bit redfaced as he surfaces, scratching at his nose as if that'll help at all.]

Now would I have said yes... hmm...

[moseyin]

I'm gonna guess no? Because you had Aerith, and I was crushing pretty hard on Tifa at the time. [Duh, dude]

[wingenvy]

I bet if I'd asked Aerith if I could bring home a hot guy she'd have been at least curious.

[moseyin]

Yeah, and then you show up with some scrawny little twig and she breaks up with you on principle. [Splashes]

[wingenvy]

You weren't that scrawny, you just had room to grow. And please, she'd have wrapped you up and taken you home even back then. Who could say no to that face?

[moseyin]

Like a stray cat. You're probably right. [Shrugs a shoulder] That's basically what you did, isn't it?

[wingenvy]

What kind of question is that? I took you with me because we're friends.

[And if Cloud means taking him from the lab, it's also because he's not fucking heartless.]

[moseyin]

No- I mean when we were in Shinra, Zack. Having someone to talk with on a boring mission, I get that, but you kept texting me after. Like adopting a stray cat. [See, he's not putting himself down because like, adopting cats is nice or

something]

[wingenvy]

[oh, well, in that case-]

Um, no, like being a friend. That's how friendship works.

[ANSWER IS UNCHANGED]

[moseyin]

Well- yeah. [snags a bit of drifting seaweed to toss it back into the water] After. I know that.

[wingenvy]

Not after. I met you at Modeoheim. We got along, you kept up just fine, we helped each other out, I liked you. In my mind, we were friends starting there.

[Probably the only reason he didn't immediately start to pester Cloud outside of work is because of how poorly that mission ended. He'd been in the wrong mental state to go chasing after new friends.]